We invite you to join us for two days of Natural Building Professional Development on March 28 and 29, 2015, at our annual Natural Building Conference. Like previous years, there will be a variety of workshops, round table discussions, and presentations on a variety of topics of interest to builders and potential owner-builders.
This conference is a great opportunity to connect with others in the natural building and straw bale community who we don't often get the chance to meet up with. Tasty libations and a music jam on Saturday evening will give everyone time to mix and mingle both personally and professionally!
The Ontario Natural Building Coalitions’ Annual General Meeting of members will take place at 9am on Sunday March 29, followed by further educational and social events. (Friday night check-ins from 5 - 9pm)
Accommodation is available from Friday night through to Sunday, and super delicious and healthy meals are included.
(Most food sensitivities can be accommodated)
Accommodation is "Indoor Camping Style". Bedding and towels are not provided. You must bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and/or bedding, towels etc. A flashlight is a good idea too.
View all the Conferences Presenter Bios Here
Schedule - Saturday
8:00 - 9:30 am Registration (please arrive early, so you can check-in, find your cabin etc., and not miss any of the conference!) 10 am Welcome and Introduction with Frank Tettemer, ONBC President -Franks Bio 10:30 am Traditional and Contemporary Natural Building in Japan with Kyle Holzhueter An introduction to traditional Japanese architecture including timber framing, stone foundations, thatch roofing and plastering, followed by a pictographic exploration of contemporary Japanese natural building. - Kyles' bio 1:15 PM - Break-Out Sessions a. "An introduction to Japanese plastering" - Hands-On Plastering – Kyle Holzhueter An introduction to traditional and contemporary Japanese plastering, including history, fundamentals, plastering procedures, materials and tools. The workshop will involve repeated practice of a typical Japanese earthen plaster brown/middle coat application and finish application of lime plaster over earth and gypsum. b. "Building Permit Success - Alternative Solutions" - Terrell Wong, Tim Krahn c. Voter-selected break-out topic from bulletin board 2:15 PM - Break-out Sessions a. "An introduction to Japanese plastering" - Hands-On Plastering – Kyle Holzhueterb. PassivHaus Panelc. "Up-To-Date Approach to Off-Grid Design" – Mike McGahern The dramatic decrease in solar panels pricing over the past 2 years has changed the way "off grid design" takes place. From Battery Banks to Charge controllers, we will explore a different way to look at "off grid design" and how you can help your customer reduce overall system costs. - Mike's Bio 3:30 PM - "Ten Ways to Build with Bales: Case Studies of Advantages and Disadvantages" - Chris Magwood This session is a critical look at 10 unique straw bale wall systems, detailing the positive and negative aspects of each one, and laying out the criteria that each system is best suited to meet. - Chris' Bio 5:00 pm BaleHeart Bar opens with organic wines and craft beers and ales. 7:30 pm Slide Show of Recent Natural & Bale Buildings - "5x5" Pecha Kucha - photos and stories from over a dozen contributors (send your five photos to ckeetch@webhart.net before March 13) 8:30 pm Social Networking Party Saturday Night. Bring your instrument and join the Jam Session!
8:00 - 9:30 am Registration (please arrive early, so you can check-in, find your cabin etc., and not miss any of the conference!)
10 am Welcome and Introduction with Frank Tettemer, ONBC President -Franks Bio
10:30 am Traditional and Contemporary Natural Building in Japan with Kyle Holzhueter An introduction to traditional Japanese architecture including timber framing, stone foundations, thatch roofing and plastering, followed by a pictographic exploration of contemporary Japanese natural building. - Kyles' bio
An introduction to traditional Japanese architecture including timber framing, stone foundations, thatch roofing and plastering, followed by a pictographic exploration of contemporary Japanese natural building. - Kyles' bio
1:15 PM - Break-Out Sessions a. "An introduction to Japanese plastering" - Hands-On Plastering – Kyle Holzhueter An introduction to traditional and contemporary Japanese plastering, including history, fundamentals, plastering procedures, materials and tools. The workshop will involve repeated practice of a typical Japanese earthen plaster brown/middle coat application and finish application of lime plaster over earth and gypsum. b. "Building Permit Success - Alternative Solutions" - Terrell Wong, Tim Krahn c. Voter-selected break-out topic from bulletin board 2:15 PM - Break-out Sessions a. "An introduction to Japanese plastering" - Hands-On Plastering – Kyle Holzhueterb. PassivHaus Panelc. "Up-To-Date Approach to Off-Grid Design" – Mike McGahern The dramatic decrease in solar panels pricing over the past 2 years has changed the way "off grid design" takes place. From Battery Banks to Charge controllers, we will explore a different way to look at "off grid design" and how you can help your customer reduce overall system costs. - Mike's Bio
An introduction to traditional and contemporary Japanese plastering, including history, fundamentals, plastering procedures, materials and tools. The workshop will involve repeated practice of a typical Japanese earthen plaster brown/middle coat application and finish application of lime plaster over earth and gypsum.
The dramatic decrease in solar panels pricing over the past 2 years has changed the way "off grid design" takes place. From Battery Banks to Charge controllers, we will explore a different way to look at "off grid design" and how you can help your customer reduce overall system costs. - Mike's Bio
3:30 PM - "Ten Ways to Build with Bales: Case Studies of Advantages and Disadvantages" - Chris Magwood This session is a critical look at 10 unique straw bale wall systems, detailing the positive and negative aspects of each one, and laying out the criteria that each system is best suited to meet. - Chris' Bio
This session is a critical look at 10 unique straw bale wall systems, detailing the positive and negative aspects of each one, and laying out the criteria that each system is best suited to meet. - Chris' Bio
5:00 pm BaleHeart Bar opens with organic wines and craft beers and ales. 7:30 pm Slide Show of Recent Natural & Bale Buildings - "5x5" Pecha Kucha - photos and stories from over a dozen contributors (send your five photos to ckeetch@webhart.net before March 13) 8:30 pm Social Networking Party Saturday Night. Bring your instrument and join the Jam Session!
5:00 pm BaleHeart Bar opens with organic wines and craft beers and ales.
7:30 pm Slide Show of Recent Natural & Bale Buildings - "5x5" Pecha Kucha - photos and stories from over a dozen contributors (send your five photos to ckeetch@webhart.net before March 13)
8:30 pm Social Networking Party Saturday Night. Bring your instrument and join the Jam Session!
Sunday
9:00 am Annual General Meeting 10:00 AM - "Creative Place Making with Natural Materials and Processes" - Anna Wolfson Surface design, spatial design, and experiential design can unleash creativity and inspiration before, during, and after the construction phase. Become inspired to creatively highlight the inherent beauty, strengths, and expressivity of natural building, sculpting, and finishing materials in your place making endeavours by collaborating with the materials, the building, and the elements themselves! - Anna's Bio
Surface design, spatial design, and experiential design can unleash creativity and inspiration before, during, and after the construction phase. Become inspired to creatively highlight the inherent beauty, strengths, and expressivity of natural building, sculpting, and finishing materials in your place making endeavours by collaborating with the materials, the building, and the elements themselves! - Anna's Bio
1:30 PM - Break-out Sessionsa. Women in Construction panel with Melinda Zytaruk, Sylvia Cook, Jen Feigin, Sarah Seitz, Terrell Wong and Anna Wolfsonb. Voter-selected break out-topic from bulletin board 3:00 PM - Fun-Raising Raffle Draw 3:30 - 4:00 PM - Closing Remarks
PLEASE NOTE: Registering early, helps the kitchen staff plan our delicious meals!
Members will receive member pricing by logging in with your email address and password using the two boxes at the top of every page of this website.
Non-members can obtain member pricing, by becoming a new member (starts at $20) before registering.
Display Tables
There will be opportunity for free display tables (2’ – 4’ space only) for our Professional Members as well as presentation boards of current work to display.
Also, if you have a current straw bale or natural building you would like to show in our slide show, please send 2 – 5 pictures to Cheryl Keetch by March 13.
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